HP Planning Board approves Rs 3300 cr annual plan

Shimla, Jan 29(Agencies): Himachal Pradesh Planning Board approved annual plan of Rs 3,300 crore for the year 2011-12 which was 10 per cent more than annual plan of 2010-11.

An allocation of Rs 816 crore has been proposed under Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Rs 297 crore under Scheduled Tribes Sub Plan which was more than 33 per cent of the total Plan, Chief Minister P K Dhumal said after the meeting of the Board.

Dhumal said that social services sector had been given top priority in the plan by allocating Rs 966 crore while Transport and communication with allocation of Rs 666 crore and power sector with allocation of Rs 462 crore fall next in priority.

An allocation of Rs 400 crore had been made for Irrigation and flood control Rs 394 crore for agriculture and allied activities and Rs 236 crore for rural development.

Dhumal said that endeavour of the Government was also to strengthen the agricultural economy and efforts were afoot to strengthen the marketing system besides raising production.

He said that Rs 100 crore modern market yard was coming up at Prala in Shimla district while the government proposed to set up another such yard in lower hills at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Chief Minister informed that the Government had posed 191 schemes involving an expenditure of Rs 186 crore under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) out of which 185 schemes had been approved.

Further, Rs 356 crore watershed project had received sanction under various schemes thereby taking the total amount to Rs 666 crore in last two years.